Vehicle-wheel.



0. W. FRENCH.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

I APPLICATION FILED 0015, 1907.

. Patented M n-16,1909.

(a r266 wfnezzck CHARLES W. FRENCH, OF KINGFIELD,

vEmcLn-wnEnL.

Application filed- October 5, 1907. Serial No. 396,071..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, CHARLES W Fnnnon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kingfield, in the county of Franklin and State of Maine, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Wheels, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements-inwheels, and especially of the kind adapted for use on automobiles and-similar vehicles, ,and it has for its object to provide an'improved device of this character embodylng cushioning devices for absorbing the shock due to irregularities in the surface of the road, the cushioning effect being accomplished without the use of the usualpneuinatic tire, the cost of maintenance ofwhich is objectionable. t Another object of the inventionis to prov1de a wheel'ofthis character wherein the cushioning devices are-capable of adjustment .for the purpose of centering the tire relation of the wheel.

, is surrounded by a tively to the axis of the wheel and also'for -.varying the strength of the cushioning de vices according to the weight imposed on the wheel so that the desired degree of resilience may he obtained.

To these and other ends, the invention consistsin certain improvements, and combinationsand arrangements of parts, all as will he hereinafter more ,fully described, the novel features vbeingpointed out particu larly in the claims at the endof the specifica tion. 'In the draw'ingFigure 1 is a side elevation of a wheel constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 represents the transverse section of a portionof the wheel showing one of the cushioning devices; Fig. 3 is a sectional view ofthe cushioning device shown in Fig. 1, taken in the plane of rotasubstantiall to the usual felly, it being pref- 'erabtlfil rigi and may be'provided .with 9. met '0 or other ri id tire 4. This outer ring fiexible tire 5 which is preferably composed of solid rubber or other material which is capable of ielding when it engages stones or other irre Specification of Letters fatent.

larities in the Patented March 16 1909 surface of the road, and is capable of obtaining a firm hold on the latter so as to prevent lateral skidding.

The cushioning devices are interposed between the fieXible tire and the rigid portion of the wheel, and they embody a set of radially arranged members which normally act to force the flexible tire outwardly from the axis of the wheel and maintain the tire centered relatively thereto. The cushioning devices are arranged between the spokes of the wheel, and any desired number thereof may be employed, two cushioning devices being arranged between each pair of adjacent spokes inv the present instance in order that t i e cushioning devices may act at numerous points about the circumference of the flexible tire to produce uniform cushioning action and prevent flattening of thetire. v In that form of the invention. shown in.

the accompanying drawing, the inner ends of the springs 6 cooperate with spring seats 7, and in order to enable the several springs to be adjusted forthe purpose of centering the flexible tire relatively to theaxis of the wheel and to enable the tension of each spring to be adjusted, and these inner spring seats are preferably adjustable in a direction radially of the wheel, each spring seat being mounted within a tubular casing or member 8, a set screw or equivalent device 9 being threaded into a cap 10 which is threade into -a ca 10 which is threaded or otherwise detachab y mounted upon the inner end of the tubularmember' 8," thisset screw cooperating with the inner spring seat 7 and providing means whereby'the latter may be adjusted in a direction toward and from the center of the wheel. The cushioning device shown in this form of the invention also embodies a cushion seat 11 which is suitably mountedhon the inner periphery of the flexible tire and provided with a central inwardly extending projection 12 which has its upper surface curved in the plane of rotation of the wheel, the lateral sides-of the projection being substantially parallel and arranged in the plane of rotation of the 'wheel, and this projection is adapted to cooperate with a socket 13 of corresponding form which is formed in the outer end of an inner tubular member 14 whichlatter serves not only as a casing to inclose the lower end of the spring 6, but also as a, telescopic-guide which cooperates with the tubular member 8 carried by the ring or felly 3, this member 8 being composed in the present instance of a tube flanged or otherwise suitably secured to prevent inward movement thereof rela-.

tively to' the ring 3, and it serves to incase the upper portion of the s ring. The inner telescopic member 14 of t e cushion which has a pivotal bearing upon the tire, con

stitutes a radially movable plunger, and it also serves to incase the outer portion of the spring and thereby protect it, and the socket upon this member coliperates with the projection 12 upon the cushion seat in such a manner as to permit a relative pivotal movement between the cushion ng dev ce and the tire due to the irregularities in the road surface, althou h a lateral or upsetting movement of the tire-or a relative disengagement between the tire andthe cushioning device is prevented. By providing a detachable ca or other suitable part upon the outer tubu ar member 8 which part carries the set screw or other spring-adjusting device, it is possible to remove the inner telescopic Inember and spring after this cap has been detached, it being unnecessary to dismount the tire from-the wheel in order to inspect or repair. the cushioning devices. In the present ea c the springs serve as cushiomng devices hat permit the tire to .30

yield relatively to the body of the wheel and thereby absorb shock or vibrations due to* the irregularities the surface of the road,-'and under normal conditions the tire will be centered relatively to the axis of the wheel.

The adjusting devices not only enable the several springs to be adjusted individually --to center or true the tire relatively to the "axis of the wheel, but they also enable the 40",

tension of the several springs to be adfiisted cccording to the weight that is imposed J Jpn on the. wheel, so that the whe'els are .45 .7 wheels ,jrlgilewof being ap lied to vehicles of e'rent' weight wit out im airing the 'e'ffiiiiency of the cushioning evices, and

embcdying them'are especially adapted foriisenn the rear shafts of motor vehicles for the reason that the turning efiort' impartedto the wheels for the puippses of propulsion is transmitted from the ody of the wheel to the road engaging tire by the plungers which are maintained in relative position by the hearings or guides provided y the outer ring 3. p

In the present instance I have illustrated and described what I now consider to be the best embodiment of my invention, but it i will be understood, of course, that the Wheel devices spaced radially about the wheel and forming a resilient connection between the felly and surroundingtire, each cushicning device embed ing a tubular member immovably secured in the felly, an inner member movably mounted telescopically within the tubular member and having a detachable connection with the tire, a sprin inolosed within the tubular 'member and aving its outer end arranged to act upon said inner member to force it outwardly, a spring seat arranged within the tubular member and seat adjusting device, the spring and inner telescopic member being removable from the tubular member after detachment of said part therefrom.

2. A vehicle wheel comprising a felly, a flexible tire surrounding it, and. a set of cushioning devices spaced about the wheel and forming a resilient connection between the felly and surrounding tire, each cushioning device embodying a tubular member immovably secured in the felly and having its inner end arranged at the inner side thereof, a cushion seat arranged at the inner side of the flexible tire, an inner member movable telescopically within said tubular member and having its outer end bearing upon said cushion seat, a s ring having its outer end bearing upon sai inner telescopicmember, a spring seat i'nclosed within the tubular member and codperating with the inner end of said spring, the inner end of said tubular member having an opening sufliciently large to permit the '(passage therethrough of said spring, seat an inner member, a'ca detacha ly mounted on and closing the sai opening at the inner end of said. tubular member, 9110 a set screw carried by and extending through said cap and conperating with said spring seat whereby the tension of the spring may be adjusted.

3. A vehicle wheel comprising an inflexible felly, a flexible tire surroundin the folly, a set of seats mounted for independent radial movement and engaging the inner side of the flexible tire, and a set of cushioning'devices for the respective seats, each cushioning device comprising a pair -of tubular members, one member being fitted immovably in the felly and having its inner end closed, and the other member telescoping within the immovable member and having a closed outer end,

the said outer end bein provided with a recess having parallel wa ls lying in the; plane of rotation of the wheel, and inwardly exbly connected to and tending projections formed. on the respective seats on the tire and engaging in the said recess, said projections having parallel side walls lying in the lanev of rotation of the wheel and arran e to cooperate with the corresponding .wa ls of the respective recess to permit pivotal movements of the seat. in I the plane of rotation of the wheelonl'y, and a cushioning spring acting upon the movable member. p

' 4. A velncle wheelcomprismg an mflexible felly, a flexible tire surrounding it, a set of cushioning devices each comprising a tubular member mounted immovably in the felly and having its inner end closed, a-second member telescoping Within the. immovable member and having a wall closing its outer end and forminga recess, the lateral Walls of which are parallel and lie in the plane of rota tion of the Wheel, an inward projection being formed on said wall opposite to said recess,

members, one end being centered b the in- Wardly extending projection, and t e other end of the'springen'ga'ging a art on the Imat the inner side of the flexible tire and capaseat being provided at its inner side with a projection Which rests in said recess and havmg walls lying in the plane of rotation of the wheel to cooperate with the oorres onding and a spring inelosed within said tubularble of independent radial movements, each my hand in presence of two subscribingmovable member, and a set 0 seats mounted a walls of the recess x'vhereby pivot-a movements of the seats is permitted and upsetting 

